Israeli air strike in Gaza City kills family of six, medics say

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Israeli air strike in Gaza City kills family of six, medics sayImage source, ReutersImage caption, A relative buries Amira al-Masri, who was killed along with her three siblings and parentsByDavid GrittenPublished14 minutes agoAn Israeli air strike has killed six members of one family in Gaza City, according to local medics. Video footage showed the family's apartment on fire overnight in the western al-Sabra neighbourhood. The brother of Firas al-Masri told the that he had been burnt to death along with his wife, Salsabeel, and their three daughters and son, Faryal, Salma, Amira and Naim.

The Israeli military said its target was a Hamas operative and that it was still looking into the results of the attack. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect last October. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Gaza over the same period.

The Details

Following Tuesday's strike in Gaza City, the UN's human rights office condemned the recent intensification of Israeli military attacks in Gaza. Between 13 and 20 July, at least 57 Palestinians, including six children and eight women, were killed in strikes on residential buildings, a tent camp for displaced families, and other crowded areas, spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said. Thirty-four of those people were "killed far away" from the so-called Yellow Line, which marks territory in Gaza controlled by Israeli forces, he added.

"Nine months after the announcement of a ceasefire, still, nowhere is safe for Palestinians in Gaza," Al-Kheetan said. He also warned that the killing of civilians "raises concerns of continuing violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes in Gaza". The Israeli military recently announced a series of attacks targeting members of Palestinian armed groups, who it says were involved in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

Israel responded by launching a massive military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 73,290 people have been killed, according to the territory's health ministry.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.